belifan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *bilīban. Equivalent to be- +‎ a Proto-Germanic verb meaning "to be left," which is the root of Old English lāf and lǣfan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /beˈliː.fɑn/, [beˈliː.vɑn]

Verb

belīfan

1. to stay or remain
   • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Epiphany of the Lord"

     Þa tungel-witegan ferdon and hí gebædon, and ða Iudeiscan boceras bæftan belifon, þe þa cenning-stowe þurh bóclic gescead gebícnodon.

     The astrologers went and worshipped, and the Jewish scribes remained behind, who had through book-knowledge pointed out the birth-place.

2. to continue, remain over, be left

Conjugation

Conjugation of belīfan (strong class 1)

infinitive	belīfan	belīfenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	belīfe	belāf
second person singular	belīfst	belife
third person singular	belīfþ	belāf
plural	belīfaþ	belifon
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	belīfe	belife
plural	belīfen	belifen
imperative
singular	belīf
plural	belīfaþ
participle	present	past
	belīfende	belifen

Descendants

• Middle English: beliven
  • English: belive, blive, belave
  • Scots: beleve, beleif